Some parents have balked at having their children and teens vaccinated for a sexually transmitted disease out of concern that it could encourage sexual activity.

Written by

Elizabeth Weise
USA TODAY

A vaccine against the human papillomavirus has decreased prevalence of the cancer-causing virus among teenage girls by 56 percent, despite being available since only 2006, a study released Wednesday finds.

"Today we have really good news," said Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "These are striking results."

The human papillomavirus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted, can cause genital warts, cervical cancer and throat cancer. The CDC recommends that all girls get the vaccine at age 11 or 12 to protect them against cancers that can appear 30 ...